MP Mark testifies for redress before Standing Committee (10/30/05)

MP Mark testifies for redress before Standing Committee

OTTAWA - Inky Mark, member of Parliament for Dauphin-Swan River-Marquette, testified on October 21 before the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage.

Mr. Mark explained, "The committee has started to hear testimony regarding two of my Private Member's Bills: C-331, the Ukrainian Canadian Recognition Act, and C-333, the Chinese Canadian Recognition Act that was tabled by my colleague Bev Oda."

Both pieces of legislation seek to educate Canadians about their history. The intent of C-331 is to recognize the injustice that was done to persons of Ukrainian descent and other Europeans who were unjustly interned at the time of World War I and to provide for public commemoration and education. C-333, once passed, will recognize the injustices done to Chinese immigrants through head taxes and exclusion legislation.

During the hearing MP Mark commented, "Both the Ukrainian and the Chinese communities have been seeking recognition for over two decades in this country. I've been working on both of these bills since being elected in 1997. It has taken a long time for this legislation to get where it is."

"Why do we need to pass Bills C-331 and C-333? We are a multicultural society. We reflect the best of mankind around the world. So, to continue, we need to fix our historical problems. These two issues are not currently part of our Canadian history. They are missed," he stated.

Mr. Mark concluded his statement by saying, "There is no doubt after all these years it is time for resolution. It's time to quit talking about it and deal with it. Parliament must lead the way. We need to recognize and accept our past, learn from it, and move on. It's long overdue."

After hearing more testimony, the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage will draft a report to be presented to the House of Commons for further debate and a vote at third reading.

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The Ukrainian Canadian Civil Liberties Association (UCCLA) has endorsed Bill C-331, and the UCCLA's director of research, Dr. Lubomyr Luciuk, was to appear as an expert witness before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage to speak in support of Mr. Mark's bill.

Commenting on recent developments with respect to the Ukrainian Canadian community's requests for acknowledgment and restitution, Dr. Luciuk said: "Working with our partners in the Ukrainian Canadian Congress and Ukrainian Canadian Foundation of Taras Shevchenko, and with the active support of MPs Borys Wrzesnewskyj and Walter Lastewka, we have already been able to move our case forward, as was announced August 24 when the prime minister of Canada, the Right Honourable Paul Martin, bore witness to the signing of the Agreement in Principle that will provide $2.5 million in funding for specific commemorative projects and initiatives recalling Canada's first national internment operations."

Dr. Luciuk added: "We will also soon be negotiating a second installment, of no less than $10 million. Those funds will be deployed for more long-term educational, cultural, research and publications programs intended to hallow the memory of all of the internees and underscore how important it is to remain vigilant in defense of civil liberties and human rights in times of domestic and international crisis."

Speaking of MP Mark and Bill C-331, the UCCLA activist said: "Mr. Mark has been a steadfast and true supporter of the Ukrainian Canadian community's calls for righting this historic injustice. While we anticipate that his act will be amended, we nevertheless expect the House of Commons and Senate of Canada to pass this bill and so help recognize officially what Ukrainians and other Europeans endured during the internment operations. This is another positive step forward. We call upon all MPs and all of the parties represented in the House of Commons and Senate to join us in endorsing Mr. Mark's initiative."

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